At that moment the room fell into an eerie silence.Damien’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at Sophia’s lips just inches from his. Her breath lingered on his skin. She blinked rapidly, stunned, frozen. Both of them didn’t move, didn’t speak.Then suddenly, as if reality had just slammed into them, they both pulled back at the exact same moment.Immediately Sophia scrambled to her feet, avoiding his eyes. Her cheeks had turned bright red, and her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her top.However Damien stood up more slowly, brushing invisible dust off his shirt. He didn’t dare look at her. Not now. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what just happened. The kiss wasn’t supposed to happen—especially not like that.At that moment Sophia opened her mouth slightly, maybe to say something, maybe just to break the silence—but nothing came out. She closed it again, exhaled softly, turned around, and walked quickly toward the guest room, her face still red, her pace stiff.Ho

At that moment Serenity stood frozen. Her chest tightened, and her fingers curled slightly at her sides. She blinked slowly, unsure if she had misheard Master George.‘Fifty million dollars’She turned toward Damien, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but nothing came out. Her heart was thumping, not because of fear—but because the weight of everything she thought she knew about Damien had just crumbled.Damien, on the other hand, remained calm. His voice, low and steady, cut through the stunned silence.“Yes,” he said simply. “I bought it. For myself. But right now, I’m using some of it for him. He needs it more than I do.”There was no pride in his voice. No boast. Just calm truth. Master George’s eyes widened even further. He took a shaky step forward, still staring at the herb in Damien’s hand as if it were a living legend.“This…” he muttered. “This herb is priceless.”His voice trembled slightly as he continued, speaking m

Upon hearing what Serenity grandfather just said, Damien nodded and immediately Serenity grandfather weak cheek raised almost covering his eyes.Serenity’s grandfather was still grinning, a youthful spark in his eyes, when he turned toward his granddaughter. “Serenity,” he said with pride, “is this is your husband? Your betrothed?”His voice echoed with warmth, but there was also command in it—the tone of a man used to being obeyed. “And tell me why is he standing like a guest? What kind of wife doesn’t offer her husband a seat? Do you know who he is?”At that moment Serenity’s breath caught. She didn’t dare lift her gaze toward Damien.Her grandfather chuckled softly. “Ah, you think because you’re a war goddess, everything must bow to your military shoes, eh? But when it comes to your husband, you’re still to be an house-wife. Show him some respect. Go on, do what’s needed.”Still Serenity stood frozen, cheeks burning. Her heart pounded. Not from embarrassment, but from guilt. Shame

At that moment the cold air clung to Sophia’s skin, biting at her like invisible thorns. The rough ropes cut into her wrists, but she barely noticed.Because now, the realization hit her, She was in a warehouse.Then her lips parted, dry, trembling as her eyes blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the light above. Her head ached, her body stiff, but her instinct screamed louder than the pain. She was in danger.At that moment She turned her head slowly, carefully, scanning the space around her, and then—her eyes landed on him.A figure. Seated across the room. His posture relaxed, but everything about him screamed threat. One leg crossed casually over the other, his hands resting on the armrest of the chair like a king surveying his prisoner.His gaze was locked on her.It was Cold, Piercing, Deadly.At that moment Sophia froze.Her breath caught in her throat as her vision gradually sharpened, the fog in her eyes slowly lifting… inch by inch… until the man’s face came into focus.And

At that moment Sophia's throat felt dry, her lips trembling with fear, anger, and helplessness. She couldn’t even blink without tears threatening to fall. Her thoughts ran wild, crashing into each other like waves in a storm.‘If I say anything... if I mention Damien…’Her heart clenched painfully. ‘Everything I’ve been planning, all the little steps I’ve taken to get close to him—just to be the woman standing beside him—will never work out. If I ever betray him like this… even once… it's over.’At that moment she bit her lip hard.‘Damien will never look at me the same way. He'll never trust me. He’ll never forgive me. And if he doesn’t trust me, how am I supposed to mean anything to him?’Her gaze dropped to the cold concrete floor, then slowly back to the man still staring at her with lifeless eyes. He was waiting. Pressuring. Ready to pounce if she spoke the wrong word.Her mind kept racing. Even if I stay quiet… even if Damien does show up… this isn’t just street-level thugs anym